Spotlamp



Oct. 1925' c. A. WHITSETT SPOTLAMP Original Fi ed Auz- 15, 1921 y providing an improved and simplified l faltented Oct. 20,1925. I

UNITED. STATES PAT NT? OFFICE.

CAMERON A. wmrsn'rr, or CHICAGO, rumors, AssIeNoR TO Firms .mmureerua- 11w solar-ANY, or ROCKFORD. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

- sro'rLAmr.

Original a ucamn'mea August 15, 1921, Serial 1%.; 492,275. Divided and this application a September 13, 1924. Serial No. 737,488.

lamps, of. which the ,following is a full,.

clear, concise, and exact description, ret- ,erence being had to the, accompanying draw- 10 ings, forming apart of this s ecification.

The present invention re ates to spotlampsfor automobiles, motor boats, and the like. More specifically, the invention is which, in the automobile adaptation, is operable from a control mechanism located within the drivers compartment. The preeminent advantage-iof this, construction resides in the ability to ope'ratethe spotlampfrom within the-car in any type of car and.

, under any condition. Spot-lamps having this interior control feature are particularly adaptable touse on limousines and other closed cars, and, in fact, are theonly types of spot lamps which can; be practically mounted on a closed type of car. Similarly, in the case of the "openbody calf, this control feature permits convenient-operation of the spot lamp whenthe side'feurtainsof the,

- car are up, without the objectionable necessityiof unfasteninglthelside curtains, and exposing the hand'or armto the weather.

' One of the particular objectsof'th'e presentinventionfis to simplify andfacilitatc the operation-of such types of .spot lamps,

cm of control mechanism which can he operatedwith the'utmost facility. 1 secondary object is to provide an improved form of spot lamp. adapted for mounting in the automobile windshield, in which a relatively wide range of adjustment is available. Y

A furtherobject of the invention. is to provide an improved form of lock or detent for locking the lamp in anyadjusted position. This improved form of lock isso devised thatj'its operation'adoes not hinder or encumber the adjustm'ent'iof the lamp.

The presentapplication is divisional of my coepending-p application .Serial No.

492,275, filedA igust'15, 1921;,

, ure 1 and concerned with'that type of spot lamp Referring to the accompanying .drawing, in which I have illustrated a preferredembodiment of myinvention-t Figureyl is a longitudinal sectional view through 'one form of my invention;

Figure-2 is a similar view of a slightly modified construction;

Figure 3 is atransverse sectional view taken onthe plane of the line 3-3 of Fig- F gures 4. and 5 are transverse sectional ,views taken on the planes of the lines and 5 5, respectively, otFig. 2. Referring to Figure 1, the spot lamp adapted toreceive an; electric lamp or other light source and forming alamp holder is fragmentarily illustrated at 6 and the control handle is indicated at 7. Extending be'- tween the lamp and the control handle is a tubular housing or sleeve 8, which may be mounted by a bracket or clamp on the .windsembly is adapted to pass is illustrated at 9 in Fig. 1," and-is a conventional modification of the windshield clamping members illustrated and described in my copending application, Serial No. 492,275, filed 'August 15. 1921 and my copending application whereby the light may be secured'in'the shieldjof the car, or which may be extended through a hole .in the corner rail or through a hole in the windshield glass. A win'dshield through which the spotlight aswindshield for operation therethrough. In

Fig. 2-the windshield glass or corner post of the machine may be cons'd'eredias dia-.

"grammatically represented y the dotted lines 9. Any suitable fastening means may be employed for mounting this housing or sleeve 8 in the hole cut in 'thecar enclosure.

At each end the sleeve 8 is formed with a '95 a bridge 11 extending diagrammatically across the same, each of these bridge members hav- 1 be rigidly screwed into the hub 12, and a set screw 16 may be, employed for locking the stud in place, The handle -7 is arranged for universalmovementabout the ball 14,

I and to this end is formed with a semispherical head 17 which is provided with a semi-spherical socket 18 engaging over the ball 14. To hold the head member 17 on the ball 14, a disc 19 is screwed to the diametrical face of the head 17 by screws 21', this disc having a central opening 22 of spherical curvature which embraces the other half of the ball and prevents the head '17 from being withdrawn ordisplaced from the ball.

The lamp 6 is similarly .JIOVlClBd with a semi-spherical head 24, the at face of which is cut on a diametrical plane to enable the head to be readily assembled over a ball 25- on the front end'of the stem 26 which screws into the front hub 12. A disc 27, similar to the disc 19, is screwed to the face of the head 24 to hold the latter in place on the ball 25. The universal motion of the handle 7 is transmitted to the lamp 6 through a series of connected rods or links 28, preferably four in number, which connect the head 17- with the head 24. As that shown in Figure 3, these rods or links are equi-distantly arranged around the axis of the heads 17 and 24, and to accommodate these various angular motions of the members 17 and 24, the

ends of these rods or links have ball and socket mountings in the heads. This is preferably accomplished by forming spherical ends 29 on the rods and seating these ends or ball tips in the semi-spherical de-' pressions 31 in the faces of the two heads 17 and 24. The discs 19 and 27 have openings 32 of spherical curvature which embrace the backs of the ball tips 29 and retain the latter in the spherical depressions 31. The openings 32 in these discs are flared outwardly at the rear as indicated 'at 33 to permit extensive angular motion of the heads 17 and 24 without binding on the rods 28; i I

The lamp is adapted to be locked in any adjustable position by a pawl 34 which is recessed into the inner head 17, and which is adapted lock in any one of a series of locking holes 35 on the inner face of the ball 14.

The pawl 34vis pivoted in a slotted recess 36 on a pin 37 extending transverse] through the head 17. The pawl is adapte to be retracted from the locking holes 35 by the inward depression of a button 38 at the outer end of the control handle 17. This button 38 connects through a reciprocable rod 39 which has pivotal connection with theinner end of the pawl, the pawl bein normally thrust into one of the locking ho es 35'by a compression spring 41 which is counterbored in the outer end of the handle 7.

a The ends of the tubular housing 8 are closed by cylindrical shells 42 which screw over the threaded ends 43 of the tubular housing, the outer ends of these shells being contracted spherically to partially embrace ruse-421 the semi-spherical heads 17 and 24. The electrical conducting cord 44 -enters the tubular housing 8 through the opcning lfi and extends through longitudinal bores drilled in the ball and stem 2526 and in the head 24. The front part of the hall 25 is cutout, as indicated at 46, to avoid pinching of the conductor 44 when the head 24 is inclined.

It will be apparent that any inclination imparted :to the head 17 through the handle 7 will be transmitted to the head 24 at the "same angle and in like degree through the. rods 2828. For example, a downward inclination of the operatin handle 17, such as one would incidental y give the rear handle on the ordinary spot light for directing the beam upwardly, draws the two upper rods 28 backwardly under tension and pushes the two lower rods 28 forward under compression, thereby rocking the head 24 to elevate the lamp 6 and direct, thelight beam upwardly. This operation of thrusti'ng some of the rods forwardly and drawing others backwardly, obviously follows irrespective of whether the handle 7 is inclined horizontally, vertically, or at any intermediate angle.

. It is not essential that four rods 28 be employed, as three would sufiice, and in Fig-\ ure 2 I have illustrated an embodiment employing only two rods. In this form, the intermediate portion of the tubular hous ng 8' may be contracted to a. smaller dimension by having the reduced number of rods. The balls 14 and 25 are mounted in lugs 51 projecting downwardly and inwardly from the ends of the tubular housing 8. The two semi-spherical heads 17' and 24 have their socket depressions 18' arranged eccentrlcally, so as to give a greater radius of head below the balls 1425 for connection with the rods 28'. The two rods have pivotal connection with the heads at lower diagonal points thereof, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The rods 28' have the previous form of ball and socket connection with the heads, and in the contracted portion of the tubular housing 8 are curved upwardly and inwardly, as clearly shownin Figure 5.

It will be apparent that upon raising or depressing the handle 7' in a substantially vertical plane, the rods 28' act "conjointly under tension or compression to raise or lower the lamp 6. Upon a horizontal motion of the o crating handle 7 or any mgr tion thereof involving a horizontal compo-. nent, one rod 28 will be thrust forwardly and the other drawn backwardly to turn the lamp to the ri ht or left, as the case may be. Obviously, this lateral swing of the lamp can be combined with any vertical depression or elevation, so that the range of adjustversal within its field of movement.

tion,la generally tubular housing extending substantially horizontally, a ball and socket Ido not intend to be limited to the particular details of the specific embodiment herein shown and described, it being apparent that this specific embodiment is merely an e'xemplification of the essence of the invention Iiclaimz 1. In a windshield spotlight in combinajoint at one end of said housing, a lamp supported by said ball'and socket joint, an op-- v crating handle at the other end of said housr f ing, and means having a translational m0 tion for transmitting the adjusting motion, of said handle to said lamp. f

2. A wall receivable spotlight for lauto-fi mobiles and the like comprising, a tubular housing adapted 'to extend through a f wall,

a spotlightv pivgtal-ly supported for swing-' ing movement in a plane substantially pen .pendicular' to theplane of the wall through which the housing extends "at the" front end of said housing, an operating handle pivot- I ally supported at the rearend of said hous-. aing for movement in the sameplane, and

- actuating means. connecting saidoperating 1 handle with said spotlight extending from; fend .to endlthrough said'housing for reciprocal motion in the plane of swlnging move mentof said spotlight,'said actuating means swinging said spotlight in substantial par-' I body'and-to project 'on opposite sides there'-' of, ballsockets formed n the ends oi said housing,' 'al first ball mounted in one end of allelism with the an 1c of adjustment of said handle, said han e, housing. and spotlight having their axesflso relatively aligned e thatsaidwhandldwill point said spotlight."

13;, In: combination, a tubular housing adapted to be situated in'a wallof avehicIe said. housin'g'in thesocket therein and havinga lamp supported thereon, asecond ball ingtin' thejsocket therein andhaving ala'mp lamp, and co-operative locking: means. be-

- tween one ball and the handle for locking 7 said lamp invarious positions oiadjustment.

a supported thereon, 'a secondball mounted in the" socket in theop'posite end of the hou'sin and having an'c ratingihandle support thereon, *a I lura it'y' ofllrodsextendmg between said alls fortransmittin universal adjusting motionfof said. han 1e to'said tubular t ed with one endlof said a swinging movement in on'e -p jane 'thereat, a. "handle similarly pivotally, connected. at-tlie- .v

.otherend'of said bodymember tor; swing-1 4 5. A spotlight comprising, a longitudinal tubular body adapted to' be projected through a glassishield of automobiles and the like and having means for securing it therethrough, a light reflector having a rigid connection pivota arranged for swinging movement in one plane at one end of said body member, a handle pivota'lly arranged at the other end of said body member, said handle'and reflector pivots being on a line substantially coincident with the axis-of said body, and a connecting rod wholly within said, tubular body and pivotally connected to said rigid connection and handle eccentri cally of'the pivots thereof.

6. A spotlight comprising, atubular bpdy member "adapted tobe.. projected through a sheet of glass for attachment on automobiles' and the like, means for securing said member in position through said glass, a; 1

s potlight pivotally connected within one .end of saidmember for swinging movement. in "a plane substantially perpendicular to similarlyconnected to the other end of said the plane of said sheet of glass,=- a handle member, said spotlight "and handle pivots.

being on a line substantially'coincident with the axis of said member, and'a' plurality of rigid connecting mean's wholly within said member connecting saidspotlight pivot and said 'handle' pivot] for ,transmitting 'movements of one to the other. a 7. An automobile windshield spotlight comprising, a tubular body member-adapted to project upon opposite sides of a Wind shield, means for securing said body member to -and throughkthe glass of a" Wind shield, a spotlighthaving a stem ivotally -secu red within oneiend ofsaid-bo ,y mem ber, a handle having apart pivotallyseeured'within the other end of said'. body member, and a rod pivoted at" its endsconnecting'said pivoted} spotlight stem and piv= oted handle part whereby-movement ofsaid handle, about its pivot will move said spotlight about-its pivot.-

a: A Spotlight comprising, --1a iaan1fi it'tliereto, a lampjliolder ody member adapted tobe pro jectedthrough a glass-shield of automobiles and the like andlhavingmeans for securing] v "ivot'ally 'con'nectffx' i bod member for? -ing movement; inia lane "substantially pernecting rods wit in sai with respect. a d .membetfan portionco-operatively arranged and con pendic'ular to the 1p ane ofj, jthefshield and substantially .transversel-oijsthe axisdof the body' member, alurali qtrecipromi' on; member pivotally 1 5 {connected to said lamp holder and handle I e'ccentricall. [of the pivots thei'eofiand lockping-means av'mg one-portionrigidly fixed I a secondq neeted with saidhandle for swinging movement therewith and adapted for operation by the hand grasping the handle for locking said lamp holder in adjusted position.

9. A spotlight comprising, a tubular body member adapted to be projected through a sheet of glass attached on automobiles and the like, means for securing said member to said glass, a spotlight pivotally connected to one end of said member for swinging movement in planes perpendicular to the glass sheet and across the axis of the body member, a handle similarly connected to the other end of said member, a plurality of actuating means within said member connecting said spotlight pivot and said handle pivot for transmitting movements of one to the other, and locking means operatively associated with said handle for looking said spotlight in adjusted position, said locking means being simultaneously operable with said handle from any position of the handle.

10. A spotlight comprising, a hollow tubular housing having inwardly converging ends, a spotlight having a stem pivoted in one end of said housing and cooperative with the adjacent converged end of the housing to provide a closure therefor, a

handle having a stem pivoted in the opposite end of the housing and cooperative with the adjacent converged end of the housing to provide a closure therefor, and a rigid link pivoted to and eccentrically of the pivots of said spotlight and handle stems f for connection thereof whereby swinging movement of the handle will swing said spotlight correspondingly.

11/ An automobile windshield spotlight comprising, a tubular body member formopposite sides of a windshield, means for securing said housing to and thro'ugh the glass of a windshield, a spotlight having a stem in direct engagement with and pivotally secured to said housing at one end thereof,- a handle having a part pivotally secured to and in direct. engagement with the opposite end of said housing, and means including a reciprocal rod connected between said pivoted stem and pivoted handle part within said housing, whereby movement of said handle about its pivot will reciprocate said rod to move said spotlight about its pivot.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of Sept, 1924.

CAMERON A. WVHITSETT.

40 mg a housing and adapted to project upon 

